{{Short description|Area codes in Massachusetts for Boston and vicinity}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|cs1-dates=y|date=December 2025}} 250px|thumb|Map showing the region covered by area codes 617 and 857 [[File:MA Area Codes Map.svg|250px|thumb|Map of current Massachusetts area codes (since May 2001)]] 250px|thumb|Massachusetts area codes from October 1947 until July 1988
'''Area codes 617 and 857''' are telephone area codes in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for the U.S. state of Massachusetts, serving the city of Boston and several surrounding communities such as Brookline, Cambridge, Newton and Quincy. Area code 617 is one of the original North American area codes created in October 1947, when it served the eastern two-thirds of Massachusetts, from roughly the western end of Worcester County to Cape Cod and the South Coast.
==History== Massachusetts was the only New England state divided into multiple numbering plan areas (NPAs) when the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) devised the first nationwide telephone numbering plan in 1947. Area code 617 was assigned to the more populous eastern portion, stretching from roughly the western end of Worcester County to Cape Cod and the South Coast. The rest of the state, roughly everything from Hardwick westward, was served by area code 413.
In July 1988, most of the western, northern, and southern portions of the old 617 territory, including Worcester County, the Merrimack Valley, the South Coast, and the Cape and Islands, were split off as area code 508. Permissive dialing of 617 continued across eastern Massachusetts until January 1, 1989.
In 1997, the northern, western and southern portions of the new 617 split off as 781, which almost completely surrounds 617. This made 617 largely coextensive with the inner ring of Greater Boston.
This was intended as a long-term solution, but within three years 617 was close to exhaustion once again due to the demand for more phone lines for auxiliary devices (mobile phones, fax machines, pagers, and BBS lines). On May 2, 2001, '''857''' was overlaid onto 617. Since then, 10-digit local dialing has been mandatory.
Some mobile telephone numbers from the 1990s assigned to communities in the area surrounding 617 (which is now the 781 area code) kept the 617 area code after the split.
Area code 508 was split from 617 on July 16, 1988. Area code 978 subsequently split from 508 on September 1, 1997.
Area code 781 was split from 617 on September 1, 1997.
As of October 2025, the 617/857 NPA is projected to be exhausted by 2059.<ref>[https://www.nanpa.com/sites/default/files/2025-10/2025-2NPAExhaustProjectionsFinal.pdf October 2025 NPA Exhaust Analysis]</ref>
==Service area== The numbering plan area 617/857 includes portions of the following counties: {{div col|colwidth=10em}} *Essex *Middlesex *Norfolk *Suffolk {{div col end}}
This includes the following communities: {{div col|colwidth=10em}} *Belmont *Boston *Brookline *Cambridge *Chelsea *Everett *Milton *Newton *Quincy *Somerville *Watertown *Winthrop {{div col end}}
==Central office codes by location== The NPA includes central offices with the following prefix format ''617-NXX'':<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.zipdatamaps.com/area-code-617 |url-access= |title=Area Code 617/857 map and data profile |author=Staff writer |year=2023 |department= |publisher=Zipdatamaps |agency= |access-date=January 12, 2023 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.directory-assistance.net/npanxx/617.html |url-access= |title=Central Office Code information |author=Staff writer |year=2016 |orig-date= |department= |publisher=Directory-Assistance.net |access-date=January 12, 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630192051/http://www.directory-assistance.net/npanxx/617.html |archive-date=June 30, 2011 |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.areacodedownload.com/617/index.html |url-access= |title=617 Area Code exchanges |author=Staff writer |year=2009 |publisher=areacodedownload.com |access-date=January 12, 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208005833/http://www.areacodedownload.com/617/index.html |archive-date=February 8, 2009 |quote= }}</ref> * '''Belmont:''' 209, 404, 484, 486, 489, 672, 826, 855, 883, 932, 977, 993 * '''Boston Central:''' 204, 205, 210, 212, 217, 222, 223, 224, 226, 227, 228, 235, 236, 239, 246, 247, 248, 255, 259, 261, 262, 263, 266, 267, 275, 279, 283, 289, 292, 293, 295, 303, 304, 305, 306, 309, 310, 312, 314, 316, 320, 330, 331, 338, 341, 342, 343, 345, 346, 348, 350, 351, 352, 353, 356, 357, 358, 366, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373, 375, 377, 378, 385, 391, 392, 399, 406, 407, 412, 413, 414, 416, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 428, 429, 434, 437, 438, 439, 443, 447, 448, 449, 450, 451, 456, 457, 459, 470, 476, 478, 480, 482, 488, 490, 502, 504, 507, 510, 512, 513, 515, 517, 519, 521, 523, 526, 530, 531, 532, 534, 535, 536, 542, 543, 549, 556, 557, 563, 565, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 578, 579, 585, 587, 589, 590, 592, 593, 594, 595, 598, 603, 619, 620, 624, 626, 635, 636, 637, 638, 643, 645, 646, 648, 650, 654, 662, 664, 670, 671, 672, 680, 683, 686, 692, 694, 695, 697, 699, 717, 719, 720, 721, 722, 723, 724, 725, 726, 727, 728, 733, 737, 742, 743, 747, 748, 753, 755, 756, 757, 760, 763, 772, 777, 778, 780, 784, 785, 788, 790, 794, 799, 816, 818, 820, 823, 824, 828, 830, 832, 834, 835, 838, 839, 840, 848, 849, 850, 851, 854, 856, 859, 861, 865, 867, 869, 872, 875, 877, 878, 880, 888, 892, 894, 896, 897, 901, 904, 908, 912, 918, 919, 921, 927, 931, 933, 936, 937, 938, 939, 943, 946, 947, 948, 951, 954, 956, 959, 960, 961, 963, 973, 986, 988, 989, 994 * '''Brighton:''' 202, 206, 208, 254, 300, 319, 403, 415, 560, 562, 586, 746, 779, 782, 783, 787, 789, 817, 870, 891, 903, 925, 987 * '''Brookline:''' 232, 264, 274, 277, 278, 355, 383, 396, 432, 487, 505, 525, 566, 582, 608, 632, 651, 667, 677, 713, 730, 731, 732, 734, 735, 738, 739, 751, 754, 860, 879, 906, 935, 953, 975, 991, 992 * '''Cambridge:''' 201, 216, 218, 225, 229, 230, 233, 234, 245, 250, 251, 252, 253, 256, 258, 280, 290, 299, 301, 308, 324, 335, 339, 349, 354, 359, 374, 384, 386, 388, 395, 397, 401, 417, 430, 441, 444, 452, 453, 460, 465, 468, 475, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 500, 503, 520, 528, 540, 547, 550, 551, 575, 576, 577, 583, 588, 599, 613, 621, 642, 647, 649, 661, 665, 674, 679, 682, 685, 693, 703, 710, 714, 715, 758, 761, 768, 798, 800, 802, 803, 806, 812, 821, 836, 844, 852, 858, 864, 866, 868, 871, 873, 876, 899, 902, 909, 914, 940, 945, 949, 955, 976, 995, 998, 999 * '''Charlestown:''' 241, 242, 286, 337, 380, 398, 580, 669, 681, 712, 886, 952, 982 * '''Chelsea:''' 270, 336, 370, 409, 461, 466, 660, 819, 884, 887, 889, 958 * '''Dorchester:''' 265, 282, 287, 288, 297, 326, 379, 436, 446, 474, 506, 514, 533, 704, 707, 740, 822, 825, 905, 929, 979 * '''East Boston:''' 271, 418, 455, 561, 567, 568, 569, 634, 716, 874, 895, 913, 970, 981, 997 * '''Everett:''' 203, 294, 381, 382, 387, 389, 394, 410, 420, 544, 545, 601, 843, 917, 944 * '''Hyde Park''' (includes '''Readville''' and parts of '''Milton'''): 214, 272, 276, 333, 360, 361, 362, 364, 408, 604, 675, 705, 833, 910, 990 * '''Jamaica Plain''' (includes '''Roslindale''' and '''West Roxbury'''): 323, 325, 327, 344, 363, 390, 435, 469, 477, 522, 524, 553, 676, 942, 971, 983 * '''Melrose:''' 957 * '''Milton''' (includes '''Mattapan'''; see also '''Hyde Park'''): 273, 291, 296, 298, 313, 322, 433, 615, 690, 696, 698, 898, 907, 915, 922, 980 * '''Newton:''' 213, 215, 219, 243, 244, 332, 340, 431, 454, 467, 473, 485, 527, 546, 552, 558, 559, 564, 581, 584, 597, 609, 610, 614, 618, 630, 631, 641, 644, 655, 656, 658, 659, 663, 678, 762, 775, 795, 796, 831, 853, 862, 881, 882, 885, 893, 916, 928, 964, 965, 969 * '''Quincy:''' 221, 237, 249, 302, 317, 328, 347, 376, 405, 471, 472, 479, 481, 483, 509, 537, 639, 653, 657, 687, 689, 691, 706, 729, 745, 750, 769, 770, 773, 774, 786, 793, 801, 804, 829, 837, 842, 845, 847, 890, 934, 984, 985 * '''Roxbury:''' 238, 318, 400, 427, 442, 445, 516, 541, 602, 606, 652, 708, 749, 792, 989 * '''Saugus:''' 285 * '''Somerville:''' 284, 440, 501, 591, 616, 623, 625, 627, 628, 629, 666, 684, 702, 718, 741, 764, 767, 776, 863, 941, 996 * '''South Boston:''' 268, 269, 307, 315, 334, 463, 464, 596, 622, 701, 752, 765, 766 * '''Watertown:''' 231, 321, 393, 402, 458, 600, 607, 612, 668, 673, 744, 923, 924, 926, 972 * '''Winthrop:''' 207, 329, 539, 841, 846
The NPA includes central offices with the following prefix format ''857-NXX'': * '''Belmont:''' 373, 626 * '''Boston Central:''' 201, 204, 205, 207, 221, 222, 238, 241, 254, 257, 272, 277, 284, 288, 294, 319, 334, 350, 355, 362, 366, 383, 413, 445, 449, 453, 472, 488, 654, 753, 869, 891, 931, 991, 996 * '''Brighton:''' 498, 540, 559, 919 * '''Brookline:''' 218, 225, 234, 245, 307, 364, 576 * '''Cambridge:''' 209, 253, 550, 600, 756, 829, 928, 940, 976, 998 * '''Charlestown:''' 389, 452, 588 * '''Chelsea:''' 776 * '''Dorchester:''' 212, 217, 220 * '''East Boston:''' 574 * '''Everett:''' 363, 888 * '''Hyde Park:''' 342, 345 * '''Jamaica Plain:''' 203, 547, 719, 728 * '''Milton:''' 598 * '''Newton:''' 226, 229, 231, 232, 255, 404, 636 * '''Quincy:''' 252, 403, 499, 526, 939 * '''Roxbury:''' 399, 492, 544 * '''Somerville:''' 227, 523, 995, 997 * '''South Boston:''' 401, 496, 524 * '''Watertown:''' 228 * '''Winthrop:''' 201, 816
==N11 codes== {{main|N11 code}} * 2-1-1: United Way Worldwide (UWW) and the Alliance for Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) * 3-1-1: Used in Newton, Boston, and elsewhere<ref>[https://scholarworks.umb.edu/cpm_pubs/10/ Operational Services Brief: 311 in Massachusetts], Edward J. Collins Center for Public Management Publications, 10-24-2008</ref> for 3-1-1 services. * 4-1-1: directory assistance * 5-1-1: traffic information or police non-emergency services<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/511 511 Massachusetts]</ref> * 6-1-1: unused (on landlines) * 7-1-1: TDD relay (MassRelay) for the deaf<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/massrelay/ Mass Relay]</ref> * 8-1-1: underground public utility location (Dig Safe),<ref>[http://www.call811.com/ Dig Safe]</ref><ref>[http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-257293A1.doc FCC Doc. No. 92-105]</ref> * 9-1-1: emergency services
==See also== *List of Massachusetts area codes *List of North American Numbering Plan area codes
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{NANPA area code map|Map=MA}} * [https://www.mass.gov/doc/massachusetts-area-code-map Massachusetts Area Code Map], Mass. Department of Telecommunications and Cable * {{cite web |url=https://nationalnanpa.com/pdf/old_pl/IL-87-07-003.pdf |url-access= |title=Split of the 617 Numbering Plan Area (NPA) |author=NANP Administrator |date=July 2, 1987 |orig-date= |department= |website=www.nationalnanpa.com |series=IL-87/07-003 |publisher=NANP Administrator |page= |pages= |access-date=January 11, 2023 |url-status= |quote=Provides notification of date for the split of the 617 NPA and introduction of the new 508 NPA in Massachusetts. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060515130617/https://nationalnanpa.com/pdf/old_pl/IL-87-07-003.pdf |archive-date=15 May 2006}} * {{cite web |url=https://www.area-codes.com/area-code/area-code-617.asp |url-access= |title=Area Code 617 map and data profile |author=Staff writer |year=2023 |orig-date=2005 |department= |series= |publisher=Area-Codes.com |access-date=January 12, 2023 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |quote=Area Code 617 Demographic Information}} * {{cite web |url=https://www.localcallingguide.com/index.php |url-access= |title=Local Calling Guide |year=2023 |department= |publisher=localcallingguide.com |agency= |access-date=January 12, 2023 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |quote= }} * {{cite web |url=https://www.telcodata.us/search-area-code-exchange-detail?npa=617&exchange= |url-access= |title=Area Code, Exchange, Telco, Switch info in 617 |author=Staff writer |year=2023 |publisher=telcodata.us |access-date=January 12, 2023 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |quote= }}
{{Area code box|State=MA | This=617/857 | N=339/781 | S=339/781 | E=Atlantic Ocean | W=339/781 }}
Category:1947 establishments in Massachusetts Category:2001 establishments in Massachusetts 617 617 Category:Telecommunications-related introductions in 1947 Category:Telecommunications-related introductions in 2001